15 South African Infantry Battalion | |
---|---|
15 SAI emblem | |
Active | 1994 to present |
Country | |
Branch | |
Type | Motorised infantry |
Part of | South African Infantry Formation |
Garrison/HQ | Thohoyandou, Limpopo |
Superimposed on a Western European-traditional-shape shield, top half green and bottom half black, an elephant's head. [1] | Elephant |
Insignia | |
Company level insignia |
15 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army.
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910. The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by Boer Commando (militia) forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies. It then fought as part of the wider British effort in World War II, but afterwards was cut off from its long-standing Commonwealth ties with the ascension to power of the National Party in South Africa in 1948. The army was involved in a long and bitter counter-insurgency campaign in Namibia from 1966 to 1990. It also played a key role in controlling sectarian political violence inside South Africa during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
This battalion was established in 1994 from the ranks of the former Venda Defence Force. [1] [2] The unit badge reflects its location. Thohoyandou means “head of the elephant”.
The Venda Defence Force (VDF) was established in September 1982 from the 112 Battalion of the South African Defence Force and the military branch of the Venda National Force which itself had been formed when the Venda homeland became independent from South Africa in September 1979.
The unit resorted for operational purposes under the command of the Soutpansberg Military Area.
The Soutpansberg Military Area (SMA) Headquarters was situated in Messina in the Northern Province. The size of the area for which the SMA was responsible for was approximately 4,040 square kilometres (1,560 sq mi).
SANDF's Motorised Infantry is transported mostly by Samil trucks, Mamba APC's or other un-protected motor vehicles. Samil 20,50 and 100 trucks transport soldiers, towing guns, and carrying equipment and supplies. Samil trucks are all-wheel drive, in order to have vehicles that function reliably in extremes of weather and terrain. Motorised infantry have an advantage in mobility allowing them to move to critical sectors of the battlefield faster, allowing better response to enemy movements, as well as the ability to outmaneuver the enemy.
From | Honorary Colonel | To |
From | Officer Commanding | To |
2003 | Col Xolisa Poni | c. nd |
2004 | Lt Col Johannes Foke | c. nd |
From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
In NATO and most other western countries, motorized infantry is infantry that is transported by trucks or other un-protected motor vehicles. It is distinguished from mechanized infantry, which is carried in armoured personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles, and from light infantry, which can typically operate autonomously from supporting elements and vehicles for relatively long periods and may be airborne.
The South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF) was an auxiliary arm of the South African Defence Force (SADF) and comprised the armed forces of South West Africa from 1977 to 1989. It emerged as a product of South Africa's political control of the territory which was granted to the former as a League of Nations mandate following World War I.
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